Magnifying lamp with camera

Abstract

A magnifying lamp with a camera, and a system comprising the magnifying lamp are provided. The magnifying lamp includes a lamp head including a magnifying lens, a light source, and the camera, and an arm supporting the lamp head. The camera is capable of capturing a still image or a video. The magnifying lamp further includes a port or other connection for communicating with an external device to send image data from the camera to the external device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magnifying lamp comprising:
 a lamp head comprising a housing supporting a magnifying lens;   an arm coupled with the lamp head by a joint, the joint permitting the lamp head to be positioned at a plurality of angles;   a light source on the lamp head;   a camera integrated with the lamp head and depending from the housing below the magnifying lens, the camera being disposed on a bottom side of the housing adjacent an outer periphery of the magnifying lens, wherein the camera is coupled with the housing by a moveable joint that permits rotation of the camera about at least one axis independently of movement of the lamp head to adjust the angle of the camera independently of the lamp head;   a media port on the lamp head and configured to receive a removable media to store image data from the camera;   an external display port on the lamp head and configured to connect the camera to an external display device;   a data port on the lamp head and configured to transfer data between the camera and an external device;   a remote control for the camera, the remote control comprising a user interface for controlling operation of the camera;   an infrared receiver on the lamp head and configured to detect infrared signals emitted from the remote control; and   a printed circuit board assembly disposed within the lamp head, wherein the printed circuit board assembly mounts the media port, the external display port, the data port, and the infrared receiver, and wherein the printed circuit board assembly electrically couples the camera to the media port, the external display port, the data port, and the infrared receiver;   wherein the camera defines a first side and a second side; and   wherein the media port, the external display port, the data port, and the infrared receiver are disposed on the first side of the camera.   
     
     
         2 . The magnifying lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the joint is a swivel joint and the lamp head comprises an adjustable tension knob to adjust a force needed to swivel the lamp head. 
     
     
         3 . The magnifying lamp of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a handle that can be gripped to adjust a position of the lamp head. 
     
     
         4 . The magnifying lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes. 
     
     
         5 . The magnifying lamp of  claim 4 , wherein the light-emitting diodes are disposed on the bottom side of the housing, at the outer periphery of the magnifying lens, with a first plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged on a first side of the magnifying lens and a second plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged on a second side of the magnifying lens. 
     
     
         6 . The magnifying lamp of  claim 5 , wherein the camera is disposed between the first and second plurality of light-emitting diodes. 
     
     
         7 . The magnifying lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the lamp head has a power button to turn the light source on and off. 
     
     
         8 . The magnifying lamp of  claim 7 , wherein the user interface comprises a power button to turn the camera on and off, whereby the camera can be controlled independently of the light source. 
     
     
         9 . The magnifying lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is a digital camera configured to capture a still image or a video. 
     
     
         10 . The magnifying lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the camera comprises a handle that can be gripped to adjust the angle of the camera independently of the lamp head. 
     
     
         11 . The magnifying lamp of  claim 1 , comprising an indicator light to show a status of the camera, the indicator light disposed on a top side of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The magnifying lamp of  claim 1 , comprising a remote control port to connect the remote control to the camera. 
     
     
         13 . The magnifying lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises multiple buttons chosen from:
 a power button to turn the camera on and off;   a snapshot button to take a still image;   a snapshot playback button to start and stop playback of a still image;   a record button to start and stop recording a video;   a record playback button to start and stop playback of a recorded video;   an up button to pan an image frame up;   a down button to pan an image frame down;   a left button to pan an image frame left;   a right button to pan an image frame right;   an ok button to confirm a selection;   a zoom in button to increase a display scale;   a zoom out button to reduce a display scale;   a freeze button to pause an image; and   a cross button to apply and remove cross hairs over an image.   
     
     
         14 . The magnifying lamp of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the external display port, the media port, and the data port are disposed on a rear peripheral side of the housing on the first side of the camera.